Charming houses Ripoll

In the capital of Ripollès we can find several tourist attractions such as the well-known Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll, the Ethnographic Museum of Ripoll, its beautiful historic center and its spectacular local gastronomy.

The origins of the town of Ripoll date back to the 9th century when Grifé el Pelós founded the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll. Although there was evidence of human population in the Bronze Age (1500-600 BC), a large population settled in the village in search of security when the monastery was completed.

For years, many of Ripoll's inhabitants were involved in industrial activity. The main economic activity was ironworking. In addition, due to the great abundance of water in the area, Ripoll's economy was also based on the construction of forges and mills on the banks of the rivers. Industrial activity was very intense for decades, but nowadays the tertiary sector has moved up a gear and rural tourism, trade and cultural services are, without a doubt, the main activities in town.

The Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll is internationally known above all for the figure of Abbot Oliva, also founder of the most recognized monastery in Catalonia, the monastery of Montserrat. However, its origin is linked to the figure of the count of Barcelona, Guifré el Pelós, who commissioned its construction for his son, with the aim of unifying the two counties.

The monastery that can be visited today is a reconstruction that took place during the 19th century under Bishop Morgades. Inside we can see the Church of Santa Maria de Ripoll which consists of a large central nave and seven apses. Its door is in a Romanesque style and is carved in 12th century stone. The cloister, which began to be built during the 12th century, is divided into two floors. During the 11th century, the monastery of Ripoll had an important library and scriptorium, which made it possible for it to be one of the great cultural centers of southern Europe.

The Ethnographic Museum of Ripoll is one of the oldest in the country. It started with the aim of disseminating and studying the ways of life of the Ripollès from the end of the 19th century to the 20th century by collecting stories, legends and songs. It was inaugurated in 1929, but after closing for a period of time due to its restoration, the museum reopened in 2011.

Currently, the collections related to shepherds, farming, trades, popular religiosity, Catalan forge and wrought iron and portable firearms from Ripoll stand out.

Despite having different tourist attractions, Plaça de l'Ajuntament is very popular because it is the most famous square in Ripoll. This is where the animals used to be kept, which is why the people of Ripoll know it as Plaça del Corral. This same square houses the Town Hall of Ripoll.

In Ripoll there are a number of buildings from the medieval period and other more modernist constructions. The Plaça Gran in the center of the city and the old walls that enclosed the city are some of the most medieval examples. On the other hand, several modernist buildings stand out, generally some private houses: the Codina house, the Alòs house and the Bonada house, built by the architect Joan Rubió i Bellvé. Carrer de Sant Pere is the main shopping street and the commercial hub of the city.

For food lovers, the city's food is excellent. The local cuisine is based on well-known products such as the indigenous lamb of Ripollès, mushrooms and sausages from the area. And for dessert we can enjoy the famous nougat-filled wafers, the "Carícies and Moixaines", the local pastry products of the town of Ripoll.